President Directs Secretary Powell to Travel to Sudan
Statement by the Press Secretary

The President is deeply disturbed by the human rights and humanitarian
situation in the Darfur region of Sudan. He has directed Secretary
Powell to travel to Darfur to urge the Sudanese Government to heed the
concerns of the international community and find a quick resolution to
the crisis. Secretary Powell will be in Khartoum on June 29 and Darfur
on June 30.

The United States has led the world in identifying and responding
to this crisis. The President, the National Security Advisor, and the
Secretary of State have all called for the Government of Sudan to end
the crisis now. The United States had identified the nascent crisis by
April 2003, and a senior official went to Darfur in October 2003 to
alert the world. To save lives, we have delivered approximately $116
million in assistance and pledged a total of almost $300 million.

The United States played a pivotal role this year in negotiating
the April 8 ceasefire and negotiating the entrance of African Union
monitors. The Administration will continue to seek Security Council
attention to this grave issue. It is time for the international
community to coordinate its response and not allow a human catastrophe
of this magnitude to unfold.

The United States calls upon the Sudanese Government to act
urgently and decisively to neutralize and disarm the Jinjaweed and to
reverse the crisis and create conditions that will allow the displaced
to return home safely and with dignity.

The Bush Administration calls on all parties to the conflict in
Darfur to adhere to the ceasefire, to respect the rights of civilians,
to allow the free movement of humanitarian workers and relief supplies,
and to work in good faith toward a negotiated settlement.